Fifth-Generation iPad Rumors Starting To Sound The Same, Which Is A Big Deal

The upcoming iPad 5 will use a G/F2 thin-film type touch screen structure. This is the same type of technology already present on the iPad mini, and should allow Apple to make the next iPad thinner and lighter, according to DigiTimes.
The report suggests that TPK of Taiwan will provide the thin-film materials, while Sharp and LG will supply the display panel.
This report sounds very similar to one published in January. At the time, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the fifth generation tablet would be “significantly lighter and slimmer” than previous models.
Kuo and others suggest Apple will release the iPad 5 during the third quarter of 2013.
[caption id="attachment_378857" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Kuo doesn’t see springtime iPad releases[/caption]
We understand that many of our readers dislike rumor stories such as these. However, they are important in at least one respect. Ahead of every iOS device release, a pattern begins to develop where each new rumor begins sounding like the other, but from a different source.
In the case of the iPad 5, has emerged. Whenever Apple releases this tablet, it is likely to look a lot like the iPad mini and be much thinner and lighter than previous models. Of course, we won't know for sure until Apple tells us so.
For more of our coverage on the so-called iPad 5 see: Is This The iPad 5?, Maybe Apple Will Take A Breather When It Comes To iOS Device Release Dates, and It Isn't Hard To See Just How Quickly Our iOS Devices Could Become Outdated In 2013.